by Noah, age 8 from Seattle, asks Hoteiosho about Japanese New Year traditions and the Seven Lucky Gods.
A Letter to Hoteiosho from Noah in Seattle, Washington
Dear Hoteiosho, my name is Noah and I am eight years old. I live in Seattle, Washington, and I read that you are different from most other Santas, so I have some questions for you:
- Are you a Buddhist god instead of a Christmas saint?
- Do you bring presents on New Year’s Day or on Christmas?
- Do you carry a big sack of gifts on your back?
- Do you come down the chimney, or do you just appear at the door?
- Do you have a big round belly like some statues of Buddha?
- Do you have helpers like elves, or are you all alone?
- Do you have reindeer, or do you travel on foot?
- Do you only bring gifts to Buddhist children, or to everyone?
- Do you visit children in Japan, or only in certain regions?
- Do you wear a red suit or traditional Buddhist robes?
- Geography: What is the capital city of Japan?
- Social Studies: Who are the Seven Lucky Gods in Japanese folklore, and how is Hoteiosho connected to them?
From, Noah
Hoteiosho Writes Back
Are you a Buddhist god instead of a Christmas saint?
That is right, Noah. I actually come from Buddhist tradition rather than Christian saint stories, which makes my background quite different from most other winter gift givers around the world.
Do you bring presents on New Year’s Day or on Christmas?
In Japan, gift giving traditions connected to me are most closely tied to the New Year season, though modern Christmas celebrations, borrowed partly from the West, have added their own separate gift giving customs too.
Do you carry a big sack of gifts on your back?
Yes, I am almost always shown carrying a large cloth sack over my shoulder, filled with gifts and good fortune for those I visit.
Do you come down the chimney, or do you just appear at the door?
Neither, really. Old stories describe me simply appearing wherever I am needed, without worrying much about doors or chimneys at all.
Do you have a big round belly like some statues of Buddha?
Yes, my big round belly is one of my most recognizable features, a symbol of happiness, good fortune, and contentment in Japanese and Chinese folklore.
Do you have helpers like elves, or are you all alone?
I mostly travel alone, though I am often pictured surrounded by cheerful children, since bringing joy to kids is such a central part of my story.
Do you have reindeer, or do you travel on foot?
No reindeer for me. I am usually pictured traveling on foot or simply appearing, unhurried and calm, wherever good fortune is needed.
Do you only bring gifts to Buddhist children, or to everyone?
My blessings are traditionally meant for everyone, since good fortune and happiness were never meant to be limited to just one group of children.
Do you visit children in Japan, or only in certain regions?
My story is known across Japan, though how strongly people connect me with Christmas gift giving can vary quite a bit from region to region.
Do you wear a red suit or traditional Buddhist robes?
Traditional Buddhist style robes, not a red suit, which is one of the easiest ways to tell my old stories apart from the newer, more Western Santa Claus figure who has also become popular in Japan.
Geography: What is the capital city of Japan?
Tokyo is the capital of Japan, a huge, bright city where Western style Christmas decorations and lights have become especially popular in December.
Social Studies: Who are the Seven Lucky Gods in Japanese folklore, and how is Hoteiosho connected to them?
In Japanese folklore, I am one of the Shichifukujin, or Seven Lucky Gods, a group of figures who each bring a different kind of good fortune, from happiness and wealth to wisdom and long life. My particular gifts are happiness, generosity, and contentment.
